Dear Postdocs,
With summer coming along, we wanted to remind you about your paid vacation entitlement, as well as with some other updates:
New Lead Steward
Postdocs elected a new Lead Steward, Ketan Ajay, at our most recent Annual General Membership Meeting. A quick introduction is below:
“I’m Ketan Ajay, a Postdoctoral Fellow in Engineering Physics. My research focuses on nuclear thermal systems and reactor safety.
I’m currently serving as the Lead Steward for CUPE 3906 Unit 3 (Postdoctoral Fellows). In this role, I support and advocate for postdocs on matters related to benefits and workplace concerns, and help ensure members are aware of the resources available through the union.
I’d also be glad to connect with anyone interested in getting involved as a departmental steward.”
Email: leadsteward_postdocs@cupe3906.org
Vacation Pay
Under your collective agreement, you are entitled to paid vacation days. Subject to the approval of their employment supervisor, an employee may choose the time of their vacation leave. Requests will not be unreasonably denied. Vacation pay calculates as follows: for those with an appointment of less than one-year, you accumulate 1.25 days per month; for those with an appointment one-year or more but less than 3 years, you accumulate 1.67 days per month; and for those with an appointment of 3 years or more, you accumulate 2.08 days per month.
These days begin to accumulate immediately and can be used as soon as you have them, or you can save them together for a longer vacation period. Vacation shall be taken in the calendar year for which it was earned, unless there is an express agreement between the supervisor and employee to carry forward vacation, in which case it shall be taken within the first four months of the following calendar year. Accrued and unused vacation time is payable upon the end of the PDF’s appointment. This means that you must be paid out all vacation time if not used, though you should attempt to take your vacation days. But in short, you do not lose vacation that you do not take.
Benefits information
Your entitlement under the Health Care Spending Account (HCSA) is $450 per academic year. This account covers many items that are not covered or not fully covered by your SunLife health and dental plan. More information on the HCSA, including an expense form, can be found here: https://cupe3906.org/postdocs-unit-3/post-doc-health-spending-account/
You can submit an application at any point; we process claims on an ongoing basis.
The SunLife health and dental plan offers significant coverage for virtually all health and dental-related items, and covers many at 100% (up to a maximum of $500 per year). Many items not covered, not fully covered, or that have been exhausted under the SunLife plan can be claimed under our Health Care Spending Account. For more information about eligibility and coverage, please visit https://cupe3906.org/postdocs-unit-3/sunlife/
Your professional development allowance is up to a maximum of $1000 per academic year. More information on that, as well as the application form, can be found here: https://cupe3906.org/postdocs-unit-3/postdoctoral-fellow-professional-development-fund
You can submit a PDF application at any point; we will be adjudicating claims in the next two weeks.
In our most recent round of bargaining, we also secured a Gender Affirmation Fund and Reproductive Health Fund, which covers up to $2000 per academic year for eligible expenses. More information on that, as well as the application form, can be found here: https://cupe3906.org/postdocs-unit-3/gender-affirmation-fund-reproductive-health-fund/
Finally, you also have access to the Postdoctoral Support Fund, which now provides up to $750 per year to cover eligible expenses, including child care, moving/relocation costs, and other unexpected or one-time emergency costs. The application for that fund is available here:
https://gs.mcmaster.ca/app/uploads/2020/01/postdoctoral_support_fund_2017.pdf (please note you only need to fill out ‘part B’ in your initial application).